Odometer reset mechanism

ABSTRACT

A pinion attached to a shaft of an odometer engages the upper teeth of a double segment pivoted to one side of a speedometer casing while the lower teeth of the segment engage teeth provided in a horizontally slidable rod. The segment tends to rotate clockwise by the action of a spring. By fully pushing the rod inwardly, the segment rotates against the action of the spring whereby the pinion makes one complete rotation so as to bring similar figure on the several wheels in alignment.

United States Patent 1 Inoue 1 Sept. 4, 1973 ODOMETER RESET MECHANISM[76] Inventor: Shir-o Inoue, 26, 2-chome,

Kashiwaza, Ageo, Japan [22] Filed: Apr. 13, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 243,562

[52] US. Cl 74/89.17, 74/89.18, 74/89.l9 [51] Int. Cl. F16h 29/02 [58]Field of Search 74/109, 89.18, 89.17,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,824,582 2/1958 Reitherman74/109 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS France 74/89.l8

Primary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre Assistant Examiner-F. D. ShoemakerAttorneyCharles E. Temko 5 7 ABSTRACT A pinion attached to a shaft of anodometer engages the upper teeth of a double segment pivoted to one sideof a speedometer casing while the lower teeth of the segment engageteeth provided in a horizontally slidable rod. The segment tends torotate clockwise by the action of a spring. By fully pushing the rodinwardly, the segment rotates against the action of the spring wherebythe pinion makes one complete rotation so as to bring similar figure onthe several wheels in alignment.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures ODOMETER RESET MECHANISM This inventionrelates to a reset mechanism of an odometer such as is usuallyassociated with the speedometer of a motor vehicle.

It has been known tO reset the odometer by manipulating a reset stem soas to rotate the shaft of the odometer on which a number of figurewheels are loosely mounted, but such an operation is tedious and has thedefect of over-rotation.

This invention has for its object the avoidance of the above defect.This invention will be understood from the following description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a speedometer of a motor vehicle showing indetail the odometer reset mechanism and,

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but the reset mechanism is in anotherposition.

Referring by reference characters to the drawings, numeral I is a casingof a speedometer, 2 is a conventional speedometer needle, 3 is a tripodometer, 5 is a total odometer and 22 is a flexible shaft for drivingthe magnetic operating mechanism of the speedometer as well as odometers3 and 5.

At one side of the casing 1, a double segment 6 is mounted on a pivot25. The upper teeth 6 of said segment 6 engage a pinion 4 fixed to oneend of the shaft of the odometer 3 while the lower teeth 6" engage withteeth 8 provided in a rod 9. The rod 9 is supported by bearings 23 and24 and is horizontally slidable. A knob is fixed to the outer end ofsaid rod.

The segment 6 has the tendency to rotate clockwise by the action of aspring 7.

To reset the odometer, the rod 9 is pushed by the knob 10 inward asshown by an arrow F (FIG. 1) whereby the segment 6 rotatescounter-clockwise until it hits a stop 26 (FIG. 2). The gear ratiobetween the segment and pinion is so chosen that the pinion 4 togetherwith the shaft of the odometer can make one complete rotation by theaction of the segent whereby all the figure wheels mounted on the shaftare picked up one after another from whatever position they occupy inthe course of a single complete rotation of the shaft and when all areengaged, similar figures on the several wheels are in alignment. Thesedetails are not shown, being old and well known.

After resetting, set free the knob 10, then all the parts return to theinitial position as shown in FIG. 1 by the action of the spring 7.

As is clear from the above, the simply pushing the knob 10 inwardly,odometer can be reset quickly and without over-rotation.

What I claim:

1. A reset mechanism for use with a trip odometer having a shaftsupporting indicia-bearing wheels, in which rotation of said shaft in agiven direction through a complete revolution serves to reset said tripodometer to a predetermined value comprising: a pinion coaxially mountedon said shaft, a fixed pivot means, a first gear segment carried by saidpivot means and selectively meshing with said pinion, said segment beingof arcuate length sufficient to rotate said shaft through a singlecomplete revolution, a second gear segment carried by said pivot meansand connected for movement with said first gear segment, a slidablymounted operating rod having a rack thereon meshing with said secondgear segment, said rod having a manually engagable free end, andresilient means urging said first and second gear segments tOinoperative position relative to said pinion, axial movement manuallyimparted to said rod serving to engage said first gear segment with saidpinion and to rotate said odometer shaft through one revolution to resetthe same to said predetermined value.

1. A reset mechanism for use with a trip odometer having a shaftsupporting indicia-bearing wheels, in which rotation of said shaft in agiven direction through a complete revolution serves to reset said tripodometer to a predetermined value comprising: a pinion coaxially mountedon said shaft, a fixed pivot means, a first gear segment carried by saidpivot means and selectively meshing with said pinion, said segment beingof arcuate length sufficient to rotate said shaft through a singlecomplete revolution, a second gear segment carried by said pivot meansand connected for movement with said first gear segment, a slidablymountEd operating rod having a rack thereon meshing with said secondgear segment, said rod having a manually engagable free end, andresilient means urging said first and second gear segments tOinoperative position relative to said pinion, axial movement manuallyimparted to said rod serving to engage said first gear segment with saidpinion and to rotate said odometer shaft through one revolution to resetthe same to said predetermined value.